Buzz
While staying home is one of the best ways to stay safe during a pandemic, what about staying in someone else's home? Renting an Airbnb remains relatively low-risk, as long as you take some necessary precautions.
Avoid close encounters
The primary risk for contracting COVID-19 comes from close contact with others. I spoke with emergency physician Jose Torradas (who previously shared tips on how to prevent spreading COVID-19 at home) and he recommends avoiding roomshare accommodations where you’d be sharing the space with your host. Opt for a listing where you have the entire place to yourself.
It's nearly impossible to travel without coming across other people—whether you're on a solo road trip, you'll still need to stop for fuel or groceries. But if you're traveling, try to maintain as much distance as possible. For instance, verify with the host if you can collect the key without any in-person contact.
Pack your own cleaning essentials
We still don’t know exactly how long the coronavirus can survive on surfaces, but the good news is that surface transmission is likely rare. The more time that has passed since the last guest, the less chance there is for contamination. However, it’s still wise to keep your surroundings clean just to be cautious.
Airbnb advises its hosts to thoroughly clean between guests. You can check out their suggested cleaning guidelines here. However, there's no guarantee the host will follow these steps, unless previous guests have left reviews pointing out any cleaning shortcomings.
Both Torradas and our travel expert, Imani Bashir, recommend bringing your own cleaning supplies as an extra precaution. Whether you choose to mop the floors, do laundry, or just wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and countertops with disinfecting wipes, it’s up to you.
At the very least, you'll likely need gloves, a disinfectant spray that is approved for use against the coronavirus, and paper towels.
What to do upon arrival
Here are some steps that should help minimize your chances of encountering any infectious particles in your temporary home. Keep in mind that while these precautions further lower an already small risk, they can’t guarantee complete safety.
Ensure the space is well-ventilated by opening windows and doors. Turn on a fan if possible.
Wear gloves, if you have them.
If you plan to wash linens, take out the trash, or clean dishes (which hopefully shouldn’t be necessary if the place is already clean), do so first. Clean anything visibly dirty before disinfecting.
Disinfect high-touch surfaces using a disinfectant spray or a bleach solution. Follow the instructions on the packaging, which might require keeping the surface wet for a specific period of time.
Wash your hands after you're done.
For more information on how to clean and disinfect properly, visit the CDC's cleaning page. During the rest of your stay, keep in mind other safety measures, like opting for takeout instead of dining in, and avoiding areas (like elevators) where social distancing is difficult.
